By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
Building code boards and code officials around the region are tasked with developing and adopting building codes that improve the minimum life-safety standards of buildings. Life safety of buildings refers to the fire, electrical and structural safety of the built environment. As the effects of climate change continue to impact people’s lives, infrastructure, and buildings, building officials…
By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
The new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has reminded us all of the urgent importance to address climate change. We must rapidly ramp up efforts to decarbonize all industry sectors, make them more resilient, and prioritize sustainability.
The Infrastructure Bill that recently passed in the Senate sets aside funding for improving resilience in the energy sector and…
By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
States and local jurisdictions have many strategies in their playbooks to meet overall decarbonization goals. One such strategy that is essential to the building sector is strategic electrification or beneficial electrification. Strategic electrification refers to the replacement of building equipment and appliances that would typically run on fossil fuels (such as gas heaters, ovens, boilers,…
By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
The year 2020 has been defined by many things; an unprecedented pandemic, a presidential election, and a national reckoning with social and racial justice. In Massachusetts, while all of that has been going on, a growing coalition of building professionals, municipal staff, and energy advocates has been working tirelessly to push the envelope on zero energy building codes in the state.
In May…
By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
A History of Climate Leadership
In 2009, Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to adopt an above-code appendix to its “base” building energy code. This appendix was called 780 CMR Appendix 115.AA, more colloquially known as the “Stretch Code”. The adoption of the Stretch Code came on the heels of Massachusetts also becoming one of the first states to sign the Global Warming…
By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
In many states around the country, the increased stringency of building energy codes is the only way to ensure that building energy is reduced over time. However, international building energy codes are only updated periodically and sometimes take years to be adopted at the state level. This often results in building energy reduction falling behind state carbon reduction goals. With buildings…